Rod: It's always great in sports when you see people who work hard to succeed and improve and get a deal like this. I don't know if people know your story, but you were in the supplemental draft, you got cut a couple times, you really had to work your way to this point. Can you talk about that journey?

Ahmad: It's been a long, long journey for me. Being one of the top prospects coming out of college, and then seeing that dream shattered ... it was kind of depressing at that time. I had to go through the supplemental draft and that whole process, got drafted in the third round after I was supposed to be a first-round draft pick but let that slip through my hands. I was with the Bengals for two years, got released, and then the 49ers picked me up. I was an inside linebacker, and I was coming off an injury in my second year. ... So my whole third year in the NFL, I didn't play one snap. I just pretty much practiced. It was kind of a blessing in disguise to be picked up by the San Francisco 49ers, and to still be getting paid as if I were playing every week, and just being able to get back on track as a football player after I had torn both of my groin muscles. ... Then in my fourth year, I had a chance to become a second-team guy - coming in on third-down situations, rushing the passer. ... My fifth year I was basically in the same position. I wanted to be a starter, but I had an injury in training camp which set me back. ... This past year, I just told myself that I wanted to focus on becoming a starter, and then once I become a starter, stay a starter and make as many plays as I can.

Rod: As a coach who saw something in you to say, "Let's give this guy a chance," what did (Mike) Singletary mean to you?

Ahmad: Yeah, he gave me a chance to play. I was happy to be on the team, and help out my team as much as possible. I'm a team guy, so it's all about the team. I probably said some things about me becoming a starter and me wanting to start, because I felt like I was that type of player. ... Coach Singletary was a good coach - and he was a good player. ... As far as him knowing the linebacker position and knowing talent, I think he did see something in me at that time.

Rod: As this season went on, it became apparent to me that the defense you guys were throwing out there was lethal. ... Did you guys know early on that you had something big working here?

Ahmad: Our defense is something special. ... There are just so many guys you can name that can go out there and make a big play at any given time. ... It's a lot of talent on the field, it was a lot of fun playing with them, and not just out there playing on the field, but it's like that in the locker room. ... It's kind of like we're brothers, you know what I mean? And that's what makes it so special, because the coaches feed off of it too. ... It's a great place to be at, and I'm just so happy to be here.

The KNBR Conversation is a weekly interview culled from the archives of KNBR 680/1050 AM.